Baselworld 2015 – Day 1 Wrap-Up

Baselworld is finally in full swing and we'll be bringing you a daily roundup of our Standout releases from each day starting off with today that saw a number of crazy cool innovative pieces introduced by some independent Manufactures that are really stepping it up another notch in terms of innovation. However, it wouldn't be Baselworld without a few regular inclusions from the usual suspects like Rolex, Omega and Hublot so don't worry, you will most likely see them amongst our daily roundup's I'm sure but until then sit back, relax and enjoy our coverage from Baselworld 2015. Starting off with my personal favorite from the show the HYT H3.

HYT has hit the mark right with their latest and most ridiculously cool timepiece unveiled at Baseworld 2015, the H3 linear fluid revolution. Following on from the success of the H1 and H2, the brand has once again dissected how to tell time and reinvent it. Spanning an enormous 62x41mm in diameter, the H3 uses an exclusively developed movement that uses a complication that enables the dial to rotate on itself, displaying the section concerned with telling the time. During this time lapse, the dial begins a controlled rotation, enabling the time display to jump semi-instantaneously. When this occurs, the liquid's retrograde movement is engaged. The calibre then uses the energy stored in the bellows (where the liquid is stored in the upper section of the movement) and provides the force needed by the hour dial movement to function. There's so much to this piece it would take an unbelievable amount of time to get through but safe to say it's been our standout piece from Day 1 of Baselworld.

Memoris introduced to us on Day 1 is also another standout piece from Louis Moinet that is in honour of the man who created the first every "chronograph-watch", Louis Moinet. It is by far the most important piece that the Manufacture has done to date and it tells with so much beauty and detail having gone into the piece. It stands at a historic crossroads: the Ateliers' tenth anniversary, and the bi-centenary of the chronograph invented by Louis Moinet himself. The entire piece has been redecorated from the case, hands dial down to even the littlest details like the new oscillating weight and folding clasp, no detail has been left untouched leaving what you see before you today, a stunning example of craftsmanship and history that only a company as old as Louis Moinet can be proud of.

Following on from Adagio and Soprano, Christophe Claret presents his latest musical masterpiece, Allegro. We were lucky enough to see it up close and personal and ask the man himself, Mr Claret about his latest creation. Not only did he combine a minute repeater with cathedral gongs, GMT, big date, small seconds and day/night indicator, he also managed to seal it all within a water tight case with a completely new manufactured in-house regulator. Not only that, but the sapphire dial reveals the striking mechanism hidden within offering the wearer a beautiful view of the inner workings of the chime. Our 3rd standout piece of the day.

It wouldn't be a Baselworld without some usual suspects dropping bombs and causing a massive ruckus. With that we have the new Rolex Yacht-Master that features a new bold look with a semi-rubber strap that's been dubbed the Oysterflex bracelet, developed and patented by Rolex to offer a more sporty and comfortable feel compared to the metal bracelets on offer. Another big change is the black cerachrom bezel with raised numbers finished in a black ceramic. It's definitely eye catching in the flesh and is the first time the Yacht-Master will feature a black dial as well, but the real winner is the 2 variants on offer, 40mm and 37mm respectively for those who prefer a smaller more understated size compared to the enormous sports watches you see today.

That's it for today folks. Make sure to check back for more daily roundups straight from Baselworld 2015.